Snowshoe

ABSTRACT

A snowshoe including a resilient frame and webbing collapsible toward the central longitudinal axis thereof and foldable about a transverse axis therethrough and the method of collapsing and folding the snowshoe. The snowshoe frame may be parted at the opposite sides thereof prior to folding the snowshoe about the transverse axis therethrough. The snowshoe includes a transversely extending centrally located brace having a scissors configuration and including means for preventing overcenter movement thereof, means for locking the brace in a bracing condition and for preventing entanglement of the ends of the brace in a collapsed condition with the webbing of the snowshoe. The webbing includes mesh laced to lace-securing members secured to the frame at the sides of the snowshoe and laced to brackets at each end of the snowshoe.

United States Patent 72] lnventors Thomas L. Novak;

Stanley Novak, both of Saint Clair Shores, Mich.

[21] Appl. No. 887,193

[22] Filed Dec. 22, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 17, 1971 [73] Assignee Northlite Industries, Incorporated Detroit, Mich. Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 675,449, Oct. 16, 1967, now Patent No. 3,484,958.

[54] SNOWSHOE 20 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 36/45 [51] Int. Cl A63c 13/00 [50] Field olSearch 36/45, 2.5,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,410,702 11/1946 Arsenault.... 36/45 3,484,958 l2/l969 Novak et al 36/45 Primary E.raminer Patrick D. Lawson Attorney-Whittemore, Hulbert & Belknap ABSTRACT: A snowshoe including a resilient frame and webbing collapsible toward the central longitudinal axis thereof and foldable about a transverse axis therethrough and the method of collapsing and folding the snowshoe. The snowshoe frame may be parted at the opposite sides thereof prior to folding the snowshoe about the transverse axis therethrough. The snowshoe includes a transversely extending centrally located brace having a scissors configuration and including means for preventing overcenter movement thereof, means for locking the brace in a bracing condition and for preventing entanglement of the ends of the brace in a collapsed condition with the webbing of the snowshoe. The webbing includes mesh laced to lace-securing members secured to the frame at the sides of the snowshoe and laced to brackets at each end of the snowshoe.

PATENTEB AUG! 7 :97:

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1N VENTORS THOMAS L. NOVAK BY STANI EY NOV/AK AT TOR NEYS SNOWSHOE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 675,449, filed Oct. 16, 1967, now U.S. Pat. No 3,484,958.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to snowshoes and refers more specifically to a collapsible snowshoe structure and a method of collapsing the snowshoe structure to provide efficient packaging of the snowshoe structure whereby the snowshoe structure is especially suited for use as emergency equipment.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the past, snowshoes have usually been constructed of rigid wood frames having leather lacing secured directly to the frames. Such snowshoes are heavy, subject to deterioration and cannot be readily stored or transported due to their bulk. Wherein lighter snowshoes not subject to deterioration have been suggested in the past, they have taken the form of rigid plastic snowshoes producing a skiing effect undesired by snowshoe users and have been of substantially the same bulky configuration as the wood frame, leather lacing snowshoes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention there is provided a particularly light and durable snowshoe which may be collapsed both longitudinally and transversely to provide a particularly small package for storing or transporting. The snowshoe of the invention is therefore particularly suited for use with snowmobiles and the like and by police agencies, conversation personnel and military rescue teams and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a top plan view of snowshoe structure constructed in accordance with the invention for performing the method of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the snowshoe structure shown in FIG. 1 taken substantially in the direction of the arrow 2 in FIG. I and with the webbing removed therefrom.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the brace structure of the snowshoe structure illustrated in FIG. 1 in a partially collapsed position.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross section view of the snowshoe structure illustrated in FIG. 1 taken substantially on the line 4-4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial cross section view of the snowshoe structure illustrated in FIG. 1 taken substantially on the line 5-5 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial cross section view of the snowshoe structure illustrated in FIG. 1 taken substantially on the line 6-6 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial cross section view of the snowshoe structure illustrated in FIG. 1 taken substantially on the line 7-7 in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown best in FIG. I, the snowshoe structure of the invention includes a frame 12, transverse brace structure 14 and webbing I6. The snowshoe structure I0. shown in an uncollapsed condition in FIG. I, may be collapsed toward a central, longitudinally extending snowshoe axis I8 and may further be folded substantially about the central, transversely extending snowshoe axis 20 to provide a particularly small snowshoe whereby the snowshoe structure 10 is particularly suited for use as emergency equipment.

More particularly, the frame 12 is constructed of stainless steel rods having a spring characteristic and includes the back frame member 22 and the front frame member 24 in the configuration illustrated best in FIGS. 1 and 2. The frame members 22 and 24 are provided with apexes 26 and 28 which act as hinge points for collapsing the frame 12 toward the longitudinal axis 18 substantially in the plane of the snowshoe 12 on breaking of the brace 14 as shown in FIG. 3.

In addition, the frame 12 includes the cylindrical sleeves 30 at the opposite sides thereof substantially centrally thereof. The ends 32 of the sleeves 30 are secured by any convenient means such as an adhesive, transversely extending pins or sweating of the cylindrical members 30, to either the frame member 22 or the frame member 24. In the present disclosure the cylindrical members 30 are secured to the frame members 24. The frame members 22 are then dimensioned to have a slip fit in the other end 34 of the cylindrical member 30.'Thus, the frame 12 may be pulled apart or broken at the transversely extending axis 20 by pulling the ends of the frame member 22 out of the cylindrical members 30 with the webbing loosened by collapsing of the brace 16 as will be seen subsequently.

The webbing 14 includes the nylon mesh 36, the lacingsecuring members 38, the nylon lacing 40 therebetween and front and back clips 50 and 52. The mesh 14 is nylon so as to absorb as little water as possible, and is cut to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 to include the toe opening 42 therein. The opening 42 is provided with border reinforcing 44 therearound which may also be placed around the outer periphery of mesh 36 if desired. The lacing-securing members 38 are plastic-coated nylon cloth. The plastic coating may, for example, be vinyl chloride, urethane, neoprene or other synthetic rubber, or other plastic having suitable resilience, strength, abrasion resistance and temperature characteristics. Alternatively, the lacing-securing members may be of canvas or the like.

As illustrated best in FIG. 7, the lacing-securing members 38 are made from a flat strip of the plastic material out of which the openings 46 are cut to expose the stainless steel frame 12 and to permit ready conformation of the lacingsecuring members 38 to the form of the frame 12 without wrinkling. The lacing-securing members 38 further have the openings 48 therethrough to receive metal grommets 48 through which the lacing 40 is threaded. In assembly, as best shown in FIG. 7, the cut lacing-securing members are wrapped around the frame 12 and the grommets are applied through a double thickness of the material of the lacing-securing members to hold the lacing-securing members on the frame I2.

Again, the lacing is nylon cord to prevent deterioration and absorption of water. In assembly the lacing 40 is secured to the rear bracket 50 which may be a steel wire member in the configuration shown. The lacing is then laced the entire length of both sides of the frame 12 between the mesh 36 and the lacing-securing members 38 through the openings in the mesh 36 and the gromm'ets 48 in the lacing-securing members 38 as shown best in FIG. 1. It is then secured at the front of the snowshoe structure 10 to the front bracket 52 which again may be steel wire in the configuration illustrated secured to the frame 12.

- The brace structure 16 illustrated best in FIG. 3 includes the separate brace members 54 and 56, the pivot structures 58 and 60 pivotally securing one end of each of the members 54 and 56 to opposite sides of the frame member 24 and the pivot 62 securing the brace members 54 and 56 together centrally in a scissors configuration in which the members 54 and 56 have the free ends 64 and 66 respectively.

The pivot structures 58 and 60 as shown are wrapped around the frame member 24 and are secured thereto by convenient means such as spot welding. The pivot structures 58 and 60 may, for example, be cylindrical members having flanges 68 and 70 thereon on which the brace members 54 and 56 respectively are mounted by pivots 72 and 74 respectively. Pivot structures 58 and 60 further include restraining flanges 76 and 78 thereon for limiting the movement of the brace members 54 and 56 to one direction, that is, toward the front of the snowshoe 10 from a parallel condition as shown in FIG. 1.

The flanges 68 and 70 of the pivot structures 58 and 60 are angled slightly with respect to the flat plane of the back portion of the snowshoe as shown in FIG. 2, as particularly shown in FIG. 4, to prevent entanglement of the free ends 64 and 66 of the brace members 54 and 56 on breaking of the brace structure 16 as illustrated in FIG. 3 to pivot about the pivot 62 into a collapsed condition.

The bracket 80 is provided on the brace member 56 with an upturned leading edge 82 thereon for receiving the free end 64 of the brace member 54 to prevent separation of the brace members 54 and 56 when they are in the parallel or bracing position illustrated in FIG. 1 in a plane at right angles to the plane of the snowshoe 10. The upturned edge 82 on the bracket 80 provides a lead-in for the free end 64 of the brace member 54.

The brace member 54 is locked to the free end 66 of the brace member 56 in the parallel position thereof by the rectangular locking slide 84 secured on the bracing member 54 and adapted to slide over the brace member 56. As best shown in FIG. 5, to retain the locking slide 84 in a predetermined position with respect to the brace members 54 and 56 in a parallel position as shown in FIG. 1, the locking slide 84 and the brace members 54 and 56 may be provided with locating indentations 86, 88 and 90 therein as best shown in FIG. 5.

In overall operation of the snowshoe 10 in the expanded position thereof as shown in FIG. 1, the snowshoe is used in the usual manner in conjunction with conventional snowshoe harness for attaching the snowshoe to a boot or in conjunction with a flexible elastic band wrapped around the boot ankle, passed beneath the brace structure 16 and over the toe of the boot. In such use the snowshoe of the invention is particularly light, strong and durable. Further, due to the materials of which the snowshoe of the invention is constructed, it is not subject to rapid deterioration clue to temperature, moisture or other ambient conditions.

When it is desired to store the snowshoes either for shipping or for carrying such as, for example, by a hunter or in a snowmobile or emergency vehicle, the locking slide 84 is removed from the free end of the brace member 56, the brace structure is then broken with the aid of the upturned free end 64 thereof as shown in FIG. 3, and the sides of the frame 12 are moved toward each other in the plane of the snowshoe 10 until the brace members 54 and 56 extend substantially longitudinally of the snowshoe structure 10. Such collapsing of the snowshoe structure 10 loosens the webbing 14 thereof so that the frame member 22 may be removed from the cylindrical frame members 30 and the snowshoe structure 10 folded about the transverse axis 20 to place the apex 26 of the frame 12 adjacent the apex 28 thereof. The snowshoe thus collapsed and folded may be inserted into a relatively small case for carrying or storage. To expand the snowshoe structure 10 to the condition illustrated in FIG. 1 for use, the reverse of the collapsing procedure described above is followed.

The snowshoe structure 10 thus disclosed is particularly simple in construction, is especially simple to manufacture and is efficient in use especially as emergency safety equipment.

While one embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed herein, it is understood that other modifications and embodiments thereof are contemplated by the inventors. For example, the front and back clips of the webbing 14 may be plastic or metal plates or may be constructed of the same material the lacing-securing members are constructed of. The pivot structure both at the sides of the frame and between the bracing members 54 and 56 may take a plurality of forms as may the guiding, locking and overcenter restraining structure disclosed. Further, the cylindrical members 30 may be varied. It is the intention to include all modifications and embodiments of the snowshoe structure 10 as are defined by the appended claims within the scope ofthe invention.

What we claim as our invention is:

l. A collapsible snowshoe including a frame, webbing within and secured to the frame and means for collapsing the snowshoe in the plane of the snowshoe toward a central longitudinal axis therethrough.

2. Structure as set forth in claim I wherein the frame is constructed of resilient rods having a hinge apex at the front and back of the snowshoe on the central longitudinal axis thereof.

3. Structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein the means for collapsing the snowshoe includes a brace extending transversely thereof generally centrally of the snowshoe including a pair of separate brace members, pivot structure pivoting each of the brace members to an opposite side of the frame at one end thereof and to each other substantially centrally in a scissors configuration.

4. Structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein the means for collapsing the snowshoe further includes means for limiting the movement of the brace members to one direction from a parallel, bracing position to prevent movement of the brace members overcenter in the scissors configuration.

5. Structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein the means for limiting movement of the brace members to one direction from a parallel, bracing position includes a restraining flange on the pivot structure connecting the brace members to the frame.

6. Structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein the means for limiting movement of the brace members to one direction from a parallel, bracing position includes a restraining clip secured to one of the brace members for receiving an end of the other brace member.

7. Structure as set forth in claim 3 and further including means for setting the brace members at an angle to the frame so that the ends thereof clear the frame and webbing on collapsing of the snowshoe in the plane of the snowshoe toward the central longitudinal axis therethrough.

8. Structure as set forth in claim 3 and further including means for locking the brace members in a parallel position.

9. Structure as set forth in claim 8 wherein the means for locking the brace members in a parallel position comprises a rectangular clip slidably mounted on one brace member and adapted to closely receive an end of the other brace member with the brace members in a parallel position on movement of the clip longitudinally of the brace members.

10. Structure as set forth in claim 1 and further including means for breaking the frame longitudinally centrally thereof to permit folding of the rear of the frame toward the front of the frame about a central transverse axis therethrough.

11. Structure as set forth in claim 10 wherein the means for breaking the frame comprises hollow cylindrical members secured to one end of the frame at the transverse axis therethrough adapted to receive the ends of the other end of the frame therein.

12. The method of transversely collapsing a snowshoe having a frame comprising moving the sides of the frame toward a central longitudinal axis through the snowshoe in the plane of the snowshoe.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the snowshoe includes a transversely extending brace thereacross and further including the step of first breaking the brace to extend longitudinally of the snowshoe prior to moving the sides of the snowshoe frame toward the longitudinal axis of the snowshoe.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein the transverse brace is in scissors configuration and further including the step ofpreventing reverse movement of the brace.

15. The method as set forth in claim 13 and further including first unlocking the brace prior to breaking it to extend longitudinally of the snowshoe.

16. The method as set forth in claim 12 and further including collapsing the snowshoe longitudinally.

17. The method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the collapsing of the snowshoe longitudinally is accomplished by folding the snowshoe about a substantially central transverse axis therethrough.

18. The method as set forth in claim 17 and further including first breaking the frame at the transverse axis therethrough prior to folding the snowshoe about the transverse axis each other.

therethrough. 20. The method as set forth in claim 19 and further includ- 19. The method of collapsing a snowshoe Comprising folding first breaking the frame at the transverse axis therethrough ing the snowshoe about a substantially central transverse axis Prior to folding the snowshoe about the transverse axisthrough to move the front and rear of the snowshoe toward 

1. A collapsible snowshoe including a frame, webbing within and secured to the frame and means for collapsing the snowshoe in the plane of the snowshoe toward a central longitudinal axis therethrough.
 2. Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the frame is constructed of resilient rods having a hinge apex at the front and back of the snowshoe on the central longitudinal axis thereof.
 3. Structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein the means for collapsing the snowshoe includes a brace extending transversely thereof generally centrally of the snowshoe including a pair of separate brace members, pivot structure pivoting each of the brace members to an opposite side of the frame at one end thereof and to each other substantially centrally in a scissors configuration.
 4. Structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein the means for collapsing the snowshoe further includes means for limiting the movement of the brace members to one direction from a parallel, bracing position to prevent movement of the brace members overcenter in the scissors configuration.
 5. Structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein the means for limiting movement of the brace members to one direction from a parallel, bracing position includes a restraining flange on the pivot structure connecting the brace members to the frame.
 6. Structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein the means for limiting movement of the brace members to one direction from a parallel, bracing position includes a restraining clip secured to one of the brace members for receiving an end of the other brace member.
 7. Structure as set forth in claim 3 and further including means for setting the brace members at an angle to the frame so that the ends thereof clear the frame and webbing on collapsing of the snowshoe in the plane of the snowshoe toward the central longitudinal axis therethrough.
 8. Structure as set forth in claim 3 and further including means for locking the brace members in a parallel position.
 9. Structure as set forth in claim 8 wherein the means for locking the brace members in a parallel position comprises a rectangular clip slidably mounted on one brace member and adapted to closely receive an end of the other brace member with the brace members in a parallel position on movement of the clip longitudinally of the brace members.
 10. Structure as set forth in claim 1 and further including means for breaking the frame longitudinally centrally thereof to permit folding of the rear of the frame toward the front of the frame about a central transverse axis therethrough.
 11. Structure as set forth in claim 10 wherein the means for breaking the frame comprises hollow cylindrical members secured to one end of the frame at the transverse axis therethrough adapted to receive the ends of the other end of the frame therein.
 12. The method of trAnsversely collapsing a snowshoe having a frame comprising moving the sides of the frame toward a central longitudinal axis through the snowshoe in the plane of the snowshoe.
 13. The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the snowshoe includes a transversely extending brace thereacross and further including the step of first breaking the brace to extend longitudinally of the snowshoe prior to moving the sides of the snowshoe frame toward the longitudinal axis of the snowshoe.
 14. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein the transverse brace is in scissors configuration and further including the step of preventing reverse movement of the brace.
 15. The method as set forth in claim 13 and further including first unlocking the brace prior to breaking it to extend longitudinally of the snowshoe.
 16. The method as set forth in claim 12 and further including collapsing the snowshoe longitudinally.
 17. The method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the collapsing of the snowshoe longitudinally is accomplished by folding the snowshoe about a substantially central transverse axis therethrough.
 18. The method as set forth in claim 17 and further including first breaking the frame at the transverse axis therethrough prior to folding the snowshoe about the transverse axis therethrough.
 19. The method of collapsing a snowshoe comprising folding the snowshoe about a substantially central transverse axis through to move the front and rear of the snowshoe toward each other.
 20. The method as set forth in claim 19 and further including first breaking the frame at the transverse axis therethrough prior to folding the snowshoe about the transverse axis. 